Bendigo Advertiser | NEWBRIDGE coach Matt Dillon says there's no excuse for his side's poor start to the Loddon Valley Football League season, laying the blame at the Maroons' "atrocious" ball-use and decision making.
The Maroons have made a 0-3 start, suffering losses to Marong (33), Calivil United (71) and Mitiamo (23).
"We're just not playing well at the moment. Our ball-use and decision making is just atrocious and we've got to work through it," Dillon said.
"Even our better ball-users aren't using it up to scratch and it's spreading through the side.
"Whether it's perceived pressure... we're just giving too much footy back to the opposition."
As well as the Maroons' poor disposal, the side is also struggling to get out of the blocks, having trailed at quarter-time by 37, 18 and 16 points in their three games so far.
"We've been very slow early and making it hard work for ourselves," Dillon said.
"But it all comes back to our decision-making and ball-use; we're not choosing the right options or taking enough care with the footy."
The Maroons have been hampered so far with key players Rhys Ford, Brad Comer, Shaun Knott and Jack Fowler yet to play a game this season.
"We're certainly not using that as an excuse because there's a couple of games I believe we should have won," Dillon said.
It doesn't get any easier for the Maroons on Sunday when they face the LVFL's toughest test - the juggernaut that is Bridgewater at Bridgewater.
"Like any game of footy we'll be going out there to win on Sunday. But the main thing for us is to focus on our work-rate and pressure, as well as the disposal and decision-making," Dillon said.
The last time the Maroons started a season 0-3 in 2012 they recovered to make the grand final.
Meanwhile, Bridgewater will hold a 60-year reunion of its 1955 premiership side on Sunday.
Nine members of the 1955 premiership team that defeated Inglewood 14.14 (98) to 11.4 (70) will be at Sunday's game - Ivan Younghusband, Kevin Poyser, Colin Chamberlain, Stuart Rothacker, Des Rothacker, Neil Collins, Tom Lucas, Graeme Bishop and Colin McAliece.
The team, which was beaten just once in 1955, was coached by Brian Harvey.
